Pinoy students win 9 awards in Hong Kong math contest

MANILA – The Philippines is on a roll.

After winning two gold medals at the recently concluded 2016 International Mathematics Olympiad, the country bagged nine medals and awards at the 19th Po Leung Kuk Primary Mathematics World Contest, which was also held in Hong Kong.

(READ: PH team takes first gold in International Math Olympiad)

Raphael Dylan Dalida of St. Mary’s Academy-Pasay, 12, won a gold medal for getting a perfect score in the competition.

“I cried and I was really happy,” he said when he saw the results. “It was indescribable.”

Dalida said he dedicates his award “to God, my parents, MTG (Mathematics Trainers Guild Philippines), my school and everyone who supported me.”

Filbert Ephraim Wu of MGC New Life Christian Academy in Taguig received a silver medal.

Bronze medalists, meanwhile, include Evgeny Cruz of Palanan Elementary School in Makati, Enzo Raphael Chan of Bayanihan Institute in Tarlac, Chiara Bernadette Tan-Gatue of St. Jude Catholic School in Manila, Kristen Steffi Teh of Grace Christian College in Quezon City, and Cassidy Kyler Tan of Davao Christian High School in Davao City.

Philippine Team B (composed of Dalida, Tan, Wu and Sean Matthew Tan of Jubilee Christian Academy) bagged second runner-up, while Philippine Team A (composed of Cruz, Matthew Charles Carpio of Agoo Kiddie Special School, Noel Stephen Dequito of Xavier School-Nuvali and Ethan Cedric Jao of St. Jude Catholic School) took home a merit award. The other Filipino contestant is Erin Christen Noceda of Special Education Center for the Gifted.

Aside from the Philippines and Hong Kong, other participants in this year’s contest came from the United States, Australia, South Africa, Bulgaria, China, Mongolia, Macau, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam.